Human Resources Business Partner

HR Business Partner — Strategic Growth Advisor

About The River

The River is not just a college. We are a nationally recognized, award-winning institution at the forefront of transforming education and opportunity. As the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence co-winner, The River has been recognized nationally for innovation, equity, and student success.

We are expanding boldly:

• The Promise Program guarantees tuition-free associate degrees for eligible local high school graduates, breaking down barriers to education and accelerating social mobility.
• Our partnership with the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is launching a full medical school pathway at our Pruitt Campus — bringing advanced health education to our region.
• We are investing in AI, automation, and digital learning ecosystems to disrupt the traditional higher education model and prepare students with skills for tomorrow’s workforce.
• Our rallying cry — “GO FAST. THINK BIG.” — drives everything we do: speed in execution, boldness in vision, and excellence in outcomes.

At The River, we are designing the future of learning and work — one that connects academic growth, workforce readiness, and life success. And we know this: student success starts with employee success.

Our Transformation Journey

At The River, HR is not a back-office function. We are building a strategic, AI-enabled People & Culture function that sets the pace not only for higher education, but for any purpose-driven organization that wants to grow with speed and excellence.

This is an invitation to build, not maintain. Together, we are:

• Professionalizing HR with the systems, processes, and leadership practices of the world’s best companies.
• Embedding AI, automation, and people analytics into every dimension of HR — to make work faster, smarter, and more human.
• Designing a culture of belonging, performance, and accountability where people thrive, leaders grow, and teams deliver.
• Creating organizational clarity through workforce design, succession, and leadership enablement.
• Proving our value with data, dashboards, and ROI — HR at The River is measured by impact, not activity.

The HR Business Partner role is central to this journey. You will be a strategic advisor, culture shaper, and execution catalyst, helping leaders translate strategy into workforce design, people practices, and measurable results.

About The River & Our Transformation Story

At The River (Indian River State College), we are reimagining what higher education can be — for our students, our employees, and our community. As a nationally recognized institution and recipient of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, The River has long been known for academic excellence, access, and impact. But we are not standing still.

We are building the future of learning and the future of work, together. That means:

• Transforming HR into a Future-Ready Engine
• We are elevating HR from administrative to strategic — making it a growth driver, culture architect, and enabler of student and institutional success.
• Professionalizing & Scaling
• We are strengthening our HR systems, processes, and talent to match the best-run organizations in the world, while honoring our mission-driven roots.
• Designing for the Future of Education
• We are preparing for what’s next: AI-powered solutions, new models of student success, and innovative ways of connecting education to meaningful careers.
• Driving Cultural Renewal
• We are embedding leadership principles, creating accountability, and ensuring every employee experiences belonging, growth, and impact.

This is not maintenance work — it is transformation work. We are seeking leaders at every level who want to roll up their sleeves, innovate, and execute — leaders who will help us build something bold and lasting. At The River, HR is not only supporting the mission, but leading the way in shaping the future of higher education.

Why Join Us

Joining The River as an HR Business Partner is more than a career move — it’s an opportunity to make history in higher education and people strategy. Here’s why this is a uniquely compelling role:

• Mission with Meaning
• Every initiative you lead directly impacts student success and community transformation. Your work will ripple far beyond HR — it will shape futures.
• Leadership Opportunity
• You will sit at the table with executives, shaping strategic decisions and influencing leaders at scale. This is a role designed for growth, visibility, and impact.
• Build From Scratch, Build For Scale
• You’ll have the freedom and responsibility to design new programs, systems, and practices. We want builders, not maintainers.
• Innovation & AI-Powered HR
• From HRIS modernization to people analytics, you will leverage leading-edge tools to create a smarter, faster, more human HR function.
• A Culture of Belonging & Excellence
• We are creating a workplace where employees thrive, leaders are accountable, and innovation is celebrated. You will help shape that culture every day.
• Career Growth & Successor Development
• We don’t just want you to succeed in this role — we want to prepare you for your next one. This is a launching pad for future HR executives and enterprise leaders.

We value the well-being and professional growth of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

· Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, supplemental plans, and access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

· Affordable Coverage: PPO/HMO options starting at just $50/month for individual coverage and $180/month for family coverage.

· Retirement Security: Participation in the Florida Retirement System (FRS), plus tax-deferred annuities and Roth 403(b) options.

· Time for You: Generous paid vacation, personal, and sick leave to support work-life balance.

· Perks & Discounts: Reduced rates on services and tickets to local attractions.

· Growth & Development: Professional development programs, leadership training, and opportunities to advance your career.

At The River, you will not just have a job. You will have a purpose, a platform, and a chance to leave a legacy.

Key Capabilities & Mindset

To thrive as an HR Business Partner at The River, you must bring both strategic capability and a builder’s mindset. We are not hiring for “caretakers” of existing systems; we are seeking architects and accelerators who can both imagine and implement the future of HR.

You will succeed here if you bring:

• Strategic Foresight
• Ability to anticipate workforce, cultural, and leadership needs 2–5 years ahead.
• Capacity to design people strategies that not only solve today’s challenges but also prepare us for tomorrow.
• Execution Excellence
• Track record of turning concepts into tangible programs, policies, or systems that work at scale.
• Comfort with ambiguity, resourcefulness in limited-resource environments, and a drive to deliver results quickly.
• Influence & Relationship Mastery
• Ability to build trust with leaders at every level — from frontline supervisors to executives.
• Skilled at influencing decisions with data, storytelling, and courage to challenge the status quo when necessary.
• Culture & Values Leadership
• Deep commitment to fostering equity, inclusion, and belonging as non-negotiable aspects of leadership.
• Role-model behaviors of integrity, accountability, collaboration, and service.
• Growth Mindset & Resilience
• Passion for continuous learning and developing yourself as a future successor.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, transformative environment — adapting quickly, staying resilient, and energizing others.

This is a role for leaders who are builders, not just maintainers — people who wake up inspired by the chance to make HR, leadership, and culture stronger every day.

Experience & Qualifications

We are seeking builders, strategists, and advisors with the following experiences and capabilities:

• Strategic HR Partnership
• 5 to 7 years of progressive HR or people leadership experience, preferably within medium to large organizations with complex structures.
• Proven ability to partner with senior leaders as a trusted advisor, guiding organizational and workforce decisions.
• Culture & Employee Experience
• Demonstrated success in embedding culture, values, and leadership expectations into daily operations.
• Experience designing initiatives that improve employee engagement, retention, and belonging.
• Organizational Design & Workforce Planning
• Background in workforce architecture, role design, and succession planning.
• Ability to diagnose structural challenges and propose solutions that balance efficiency, agility, and growth.
• Change Leadership & Execution
• Experience leading or supporting major transformations — systems, processes, or cultural shifts.
• Comfort in environments that require building from scratch, with a track record of creating order out of ambiguity.
• People Analytics & Data Orientation
• Familiarity with HR metrics, dashboards, and data-driven decision-making.
• Ability to turn workforce data into actionable insights that shape leadership priorities.

Preferred Backgrounds

• Prior experience in highly respected organizations (e.g., Fortune 500, award-winning workplaces, or industries known for HR excellence).
• Exposure to technology, manufacturing, services, or other sectors where innovation and people strategy intersect.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, or related field required.
• Master’s degree or equivalent
• Mindset & Values Alignment
• Growth mindset, passion for continuous learning, and resilience to drive change in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to The River’s values of service excellence, innovation, inclusion, and accountability.